Alarm for strongboxes



Nov; 28, 1950 E. B. DAVIS ALARM FOR STRONG BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1948 3 Z4 mo 95 mmvron 50042 a. '04 W3,

Nov. 28, 1950 E. B. DAVIS ALARM FOR STRONG BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1948 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. DAV/-51 2 ane Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM FOR STRONGBOXES Edgar B. Davis, Tangerine, Fla.

Application November 23, 1948, Serial No. 61,681

This invention relates to alarms for strong boxes and has for its object the provision of a warning means incorporated in a box for storing valuables in such a manner that when said box is raised or shifted along a supporting surface, an alarm will be sounded to not only warn the occupants of a building or other enclosures that an attempt is being made to steal the box but to frighten the thief sufficiently that he will attempt to make his escape immediatel without the box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel means incorporated in a strong box or other container housing money or other valuables for giving an alarm when the box is shifted along a surface or raised therefrom, said means including a plurality of spring-pressed members, some of which being actuated to release the alarm when the container is moved along a supporting surface, the remaining member becoming operative to release the alarm when the container is raised from the surface, said container having means projecting from the bottom thereof to prevent a flat instrument from being slipped between the bottom of the container and the supporting surface to retain the alarm-releasing means from movement when the container is raised.

The invention is best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure but is susceptible of such changes and modifications as shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view in elevation of a strong box with the front wall partly broken away and with parts in section to show the alarmreleasing mechanism in an operative position in an enclosure,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the enclosure for the alarm showing a top plan view ofv mechanism for controlling the alarm,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2 showing a means for actuating the alarm when the strong box is shifted along a surface,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section of the alarm-operating means shown in Figure 3, and taken along the line 44 of Figure 2, v

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 2,

3 Claims. (Cl. 116-99) box.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken along the line B--6 of Figure 2, showing a slidable means for preventing tampering with the alarm-releasing means,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical section of the construction shown in Figure 6 disclosing the slidable means in an operative position,

Figure 8 is an enlar ed fragmentar vertical section showing a means for retaining in an inoperative position a clock mechanism which actuates an alarm,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing a bolt holding a control disk in an operative position and closing a switch,

Figure 10 shows more or less diagrammatically an electric circuit showing the switch and alarm incorporated therein,

Figure 11 is longitudinal vertical section of the clock-mechanism taken along the line IIH of Figure 2, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section showin a means for attaching the box to a support.

Referring more particularly to the drawings l5 designates a strong box or container for valuables having a hinged closure IE which is secured against unauthorized operation by a lock ll. A drawer or receptacle I8 is mounted removably in the top of the box I5 and may be employed for storing jewelry or the like or it may form a repositor for mone in the home, in a commercial establishment or in an automobile.

A metal cover 20 has an end wall 2| and side walls 22 and 23 attached removably in any approved manner to the bottom 24 of the box ii. A top wall 25 of the cover has a free end 26 connected removably to an end wall 21 of the The mechanism for operating an alarm is concealed within the cover 20.

The alarm includes a bell 30, a clapper BI and a clock mechanism 32 housed as a unit within a casing 33. The inner end of the clapper is attached to the usual escapement 34 operated by a gear 35 which forms one element of a train 36 of gears revolved by the usual spring 31.

' A disk 40 is secured to a shaft 4| revolved by and projecting from the clock mechanism. The outer free end of the shaft is supported by a bracket 42 rising from the bottom 24 of thebox IS. The disk has a pawl 43 (Figs. 1 and 8) on its periphery for engagement with the lower free, end of a bolt 44 slidably mounted at 45 on the,

inner face of the end wall 21 of the box; The.

bolt, when in lowered position, holds the disk 40 against rotation by the clock mechanism. The

bolt may be raised manually, after removal of the top wall 25, to release the disk for rotation in a manner which will be explained presently, said disk is retained further against rotation when a beveled end 46 of a lever 41 engages a pin 48 projecting laterally from the disk. It will be noted that the disk 40 adjacent the pawl 43 is cut away to provide a flat portion 49 so that the bolt 44 will be received between the fiat portion and the pawl to prevent rotation of the disk when the bolt is lowered.

The lever 41 is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on an axle 50 carried by the upper free end of a bracket rising from the floor 24 of the box. The other end of the lever, as shown at 52, is pivotally connected to a vertical rod 53 rising rigidly from a weight 54 in the form of a disk received by a circular opening 55 in the floor of the box (Figs. 6 and 7).

A piston 56 (Fig. 5) is slidably mounted in a cylinder 57 which has an outer closed end 58 engaged by a coil spring 60 in said cylinder. The other end of the spring presses on the inner end of the piston for forcing a head 6! onto the upper end of the rod 53. An annular rib 62 on the inner end of said cylinder which is received by an opening 63 in the top 25 of the cover 20 retains the cylinder in said opening. The cylindelmay be pressed downwardly against the tension of the spring 50 and held in such position by a bolt 64 slidable in bearings 65 on the top 25 for exerting pressure on the rod 53 and likewise the disk 54 for a purpose which will be explained presently. The cylinder 51 must be properly positioned in the opening 63, when initially setting the alarm, in engagement with the spring 69 and the piston 56, with the piston 56 engaging the rod 53. Normally the spring tension will seat the cylinder 57 in the opening 63, but if the disk 54 has been moved excessively in releasing the alarm, the cylinder 56 must be manually reset through the opening 63, with the bolt 54 in a released or open position. The cylinder 51 will fall free from the cover 20 when the alarm is set off so that the alarm will not be I stopped upon replacing the box on the supporting surface. The bolt 64 is manipulated by a knob 66.

A plurality of inverted U-shaped members 51 are curved along an arc and are arranged along the circumference of a circle in embracing relation with the periphery of the disk 54 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7). The lower free edges of the side walls of the members 61 are provided with lugs 68 received by openings in the bottom 24 and these lugs are turned for securing said members in position. Pins provided with heads II at the upper ends have the lower ends slidable in openings I2 in the bottom 24 of the box I5 and beveled to provide a thin edge 13 for engagement with the floor or surface upon which the box is supported. A number of the pins are arranged around the disk 54 to prevent the insertion of a flat instrument beneath the bottom face of the disk 54.

A plurality of fingers I5, I6, 11 and I8 have the upper ends thereof pivoted on an axle III]. The

Springs pull the fingers 15 and I6 outwardly from each other while springs 86 pull the fingers II and I8 outwardly from each other. In this manner the free pointed ends of the fingers are held against the outer ends of the respective slots. If the box I5 is moved across the supporting surface the pointed end of one finger will always resist movement of the box and due to friction between said end and the supporting surface, the end will be shifted in the opposite direction to the line of travel of the box and the finger attached to said box will be shifted to a vertical position and will raise the end 46 of the lever 47 away from the pin 48 for releasing the disk 40.

A bolt 81 is slidable in bearings 88 and 88- fixed to the bottom 24 of the box. A coil spring 89 on the bolt is compressed between a pin 90 on the bolt and the bearing I38 when the free end of the bolt is in engagement with the periphery of the disk 54 (Figure 1). At this time, a switch arm '91 is out of engagement with a contact 92 on the post 88. An electric wire 93 extends from said contact through the bottom '24 to a source of current 94. The switch arm is secured to the outer end of the bolt 81 by a set screw 95 which also attaches one end of a wire 96 to the arm, the other end of said wire being attached to a contact of a bell 91 or other kind of an alarm remotely located from the box I5. The wire passes through the same opening for the wire 93. A wire 98 connects the other contact of the bell with the source of current. A manually operated switch 99 is incorporated in the wire 96. Washers I00 on the screw 95 insulate the arm SH and the contacting wire '95 in a well-known manner, from the bolt 87.

Thus it will be seen that when the box is lifted by an unauthorized person the disk 54 will drop downwardly and out of the opening in the bottom of the box. The bolt 8'! is now released and is forced over the top of the disk by the spring 89 and the arm 9| will make contact with the member 92 for closing the circuit to the alarm 91. For resetting the alarm, the bolt 81 will bemoved to switch opening position before the disk 54 can be placed in the reset position.

In Figure 12 is illustrated a simple form of means for attaching the box E5 to a table, floor or shelf I05. This means prevents the removal of the box from any kind of support while permitting the box suificiently to drop the disk 5 to an operative position for setting off the alarm 91'. A bolt 286 is received by alined passages in the bottom 24 of the box i5 and the support I85. A head If" on the bolt rests upon the inner surface of the bottom of the box while a nut I t8 threaded onto the outer end of the bolt is adapted to en gage the under surface support to prevent removal of said box. A cotter pin M5 received by a passage in the bolt prevents loss of the nut. When the box I5 is raised, the bolt, head it? and nut I08 will prevent removal of said box from the support. The bolt, however, is long enough to permit raising of the box sufiicient to release 7 the disk 54 to an operative position.

The operation of the alarm for the box I5 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive is as follows: The lock I1 is opened by a key so that the lid it may be raised and the tray ordrawer maybe withdrawn. The box I5 is placed upon a suitable supporting surface and after the bolt M has been moved downwardly to prevent rotation of the disk 40, the spring 3'! of the clock-mechanism is wound. The cylinder 5? is pressed downwardly against the tension of the spring 66 for placing the rod 53 and disk 54 under tension through the cap 6|. The bolt 64 is then shifted so that it will ride on the upper closed end of the cylinder for retainin said cylinder against upward movement. The pin 48 at thi time will be disposed beneath the beveled end 46 of the lever 47 The disk or weight 54, the pointed ends of the fingers 15 to 18 inclusive and the beveled ends of the pins 1!! will be in contact with the supporting surface for the box. The bolt 44 is raised and the tray with valuables is placed in the box and the lid is locked.

Raising or tilting the box l will release the disk 54 whence the free end 46 of the lever 41 will be raised, thereby releasing the pin 48 so that the clock-mechanism will operate the alarm 38. Thus, a warning is given that the box has been tampered with.

If the box is shifted along the surface, one of the pointed ends 19 or 82 of the fingers 15 to T8 3 inclusive will frictionally engage the supporting surface and will tend to resist movement. Such action will cause the attached finger to move towards the vertical so that the free end 46 of the lever 4'1 will be raised and removed from the pin 48 to release the alarm. The upward movement of a finger will raise the box slightly at one end thus slightly dropping the disk 54 and thereby releasing the lever 41 from the pin 48 and setting off the alarm mechanism.

If an attempt be made to slide a flat metal blade beneath the bottom of the box I 5 to prevent downward movement of the disk 54 under the influence of the spring 60, said blade will come into contact with the free ends of the pins 70 which encircle the disk 54 so that it will be impossible for the inserted blade to reach the disk 54. The slight tilting of the bottom of the box by the insertion of the blade may be insufiicient to lower the disk 54 to release the lever 41 from the pin 48 to start the alarm but it will be suificient to project the free ends of the pins across the path of the inserted blade to prevent the blade from reaching the disk 54.

The bolt 81 is forced inwardly at all times against the disk 54. However, when the disk is projected from the box said bolt will slip over the top of the disk and prevent anyone from returning said disk.

What I claim:

1. A strong box alarm comprising a box having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a disk slidable through said opening and normally retained within said box by the weight of the box bearing on a supporting surface, a cover element in said box overlying said disk and spaced thereabove, a rod on said disk, spring means engaged between said rod and cover biasing said disk downwardly through said opening, a spring wound alarm member in the box including a rotatable member, a pin on said rotatable member spaced from the axis thereof, a lever pivoted in the box and pivotally engaged at one end on said rod, the other end of said lever engaging said pin for normally retaining said alarm member against actuation and releasable therefrom upon lifting of the box for sliding said disk downwardly through said opening.

2. A strong box alarm comprising a box having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a disk slidable through said opening and normally retained within said box by the weight of the box bearing on a supporting surface, a cover element in said box overlying said disk and spaced thereabove a rod on said disk, means biasing said disk downwardly through said opening, an alarm member in the box including a rotatable member, a pin on said rotatable member spaced from the axis thereof, a lever pivoted in the box and pivotally engaged at one end on said rod, the other end of said lever engaging said pin for normally retaining said alarm against actuation and releasable therefrom upon lifting of the box for sliding said disk downwardly through said opening.

3. A strong box alarm comprising a box having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a disk slidable through said opening and normally retained within said box by the weight of the box bearing on a supporting surface, a cover element in said box overlying said disk and spaced thereabove, a rod on said disk, said cover having an opening therein, a cylinder slidable through said latter opening, means on said cylinder engageable with said cover limiting the upward sliding movement of the cylinder through said cover, said cylinder having an opening through the lower end thereof, spring means in said cylinder engaging said rod biasing said disk through said first mentioned opening, a spring wound alarm member in the box including a rotatable member, a retaining member on said rotatable member spaced from the axis thereof, a lever pivoted in the box and pivotally engaged at one end on said rod, the other end of said lever engaging said retaining member for normally retaining said alarm against actuation and releasable therefrom upon lifting of the box for sliding said disk downwardly through said opening.

EDGAR B. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 880,981 Lo Faro Mar. 3, 1908 1,238,618 Zunac Aug. 28, 1917 1,301,783 Butcher Apr. 22, 1919 1,427,507 Yano Aug. 29, 1922 1,487,525 Bascome Mar. 18, 1924 

